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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Leroy W. "Sonny" Jackson, who passed away
4on April 10, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson was born on October 25, 1943 to the
6late Andrew Jackson and Florence Walker in Hammonds, Louisiana;
7he was the eldest of 4 children; he attended grammar school in
8Markham and high school at Thorton Township, where he was the
9star of the football team; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson was a trained and skilled glazier
11for over 40 years, thanks to his father who owned a glass
12company on the west side of Chicago; he also worked as a
13glazier for the Chicago Housing Authority and the HT Glass
14Company; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson had a daughter, April, from his
16first marriage; he later married Jean Jackson in 1979; by
17marrying Jean, he became a father to John and Tony Jones; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson and his wife founded the non-profit
19organization "Eyes on Austin" on Chicago's far west side in
201999, an achievement that stood out as his proudest
21accomplishment; he worked tirelessly at Eyes on Austin,

 

 

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1training future craftsmen in various job training programs and
2leading Austin's Labor of Love, an annual volunteer event to
3repair the homes of those in need in the Austin community; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson loved returning to Louisiana, which
5he did as often as he could; family reunions were one of his
6favorite things; in his later years, he enjoyed watching
7westerns with his wife and his beloved cat, Levi, who was
8always by his side; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson was preceded in death by his
10parents; his stepmother, Olivia Jackson; a brother, Jimmie; a
11stepsister, Mary; and a stepson, John Jones; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson is survived by his beloved wife of
1335 years, Jean; his daughter, April; his stepson, Tony; his
14sister, Vivian (Joseph); his stepsisters, Joyce and Lois; his
15stepbrothers, Michael and Derrick; his grandchildren, Marissa
16and Maurice Jones; his in-laws, Sharon Franklin and Donald
17McNeal; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends;
18therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his
21family and friends, mourn the passing of Leroy W. "Sonny"
22Jackson; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Sonny Jackson as an expression of
3our sympathy.